Air pollution is a growing problem in most cities (big and small). The "Daily Dose" aims to disseminate the best available information on air pollution and engage in discussions to better understand the process of air quality management. For more details on the program, please visit http://www.urbanemissions.info

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

How Bad is the Outdoor Air Quality in India?

Air pollution is now the fifth largest killer in India, says newly released findings of Global Burden of Disease report

Findings released by the scientists behind the study at a Dialogue Workshop organised by Centre for Science and Environment, Indian Council of Medical Research and US-based Health Effects Institute

Annual premature deaths caused by particulate air pollution have increased by six times since the year 2000. With one fifth of global deaths, India shows the greatest impacts of outdoor air pollution. Globally, air pollution-related deaths have increased by 300 per cent since 2000. About 65 per cent of these deaths occur in Asia.

The report says that about 620,000 premature deaths occur in India from
air pollution-related diseases. Global Burden of Disease (2010) has ranked air pollution as one of
the top 10 killers in the world, and the sixth most dangerous killer in
South Asia. In fact, particulate air pollution is now just three places
behind indoor air pollution, which is the second highest killer in
India.